Despite the sense of positiveness within the Indian authorities that the new government in Dhaka led by Shiekh Hasina will crackdown on North East-based militants in Bangladesh, former Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) Chairman Julius K Dorphang, however, felt that as long the Bangladesh government is being remote control by the junta it will not initiate any action against the militants.
"Even though Hasina is known to be a pro-India, but her government cannot launch a massive crackdown against the Indian insurgents hiding in that country because of the influence of the military in any Bangladesh government," Dorphang said.
His statement assumed significance at a time when senior officials of the Border Security Force (BSF) said that Indian militants could run off the camps in Bangladesh due to pressure from the new Bangladesh government.
But for Dorphang who had spent 19 years of being a rebel leader in Bangladesh said authorities in Bangladesh would act positively against the insurgents holed up in that country only if the government fully runs on its own.
The former rebel leader, who had earlier waged war against India for an independent homeland for the tribal Khasis came overground due to ideological differences with his colleagues over the running of the organization in Bangladesh.
"Authorities in Bangladesh are aware of the existence of training camps of the Indian rebels. They had even raided and dismantled it. But we continue to set up our training camps due to tacit understanding with Bangladesh," Dorphang recalled.
The former rebel leader, however, felt that Dhaka would take serious actions against the North East militants only through diplomatic channels on trade and investments. "If the militants can spend money to Bangladesh authorities and to the local people why not India invests in Bangladesh," Dorphang said. He added: "Bangladesh is a banana country. I have experienced the level of poverty prevailing in Bangladesh. The only way to improve Bangladesh is to bring large scale investment from outside."